Meter casing



May 12, 1925. 1,537,607

C. M. HOEFTMAN METER CASING Filed June 16, 1922 INVENTOR Charles M. Hoeftma ATTORNEY WlTNESSES:

Patented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. HOEF'IMAN,OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC 8c MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METER CASING.

Application'filed June 16, 1922. Serial No. 568,875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES M. Honr'r- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Meter Casings, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to meter cases, and it has particular relation to watthour meter cases constructed of sheet metal.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a device, of the character described, that is of relatively light weight, attractive in appearance and that may be manufactured at relatively small expense and with comparatively few dies or forming tools.

Another object of my invention is to simplify the construction of meter cases, of the class designated, by pressing the main body portion of the casing and the terminal block housing from a single sheet metal blank.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described having a terminal block supporting member formed with an arcuate flanged portion that is adapted to cooperate with the side walls of the casing to complete the circular configuration thereof and to cooperate with the cover of the meter case to effect acomplete closure.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a meter casing constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the terminal block supporting member.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, a watthour meter case is shown as comprising a main body portion 1 adapted to contain the meter mechanism and an integral terminal block housing 2 which are together pressed from a single sheet metal blank. The body portion 1 is formed with a substantially discoidal back portion 3 provided'with an arcuate flange or side wall 4. The back portion 3 is provided with an extension 5, which constitutes the back portion of the housing 2 and is provided with a side wall 6 and bottom portion 7 which are integral with and con stitute continuations of the side wall 4. The bottom portion 7 of the housing 2 is provided 'Wltlt a plurality of apertures 8 through which the terminals (not shown) T casing.

A horizontally extending frame structure 12 separates the interior of the body portion 1 of the casing and the terminal block housing 2 and is provided with a vertically extending front wall 13. The upper edge of the front wall 13 is provided with an arcuate flange 14, which conforms to the curvature of the side wall 4 of the casing, and is provided with offset extremities '15 which overlap and are supported by the lower ends of the side wall 4. The rear edge of the frame 12 is provided with a tongue 16 which engages an aperture or slot in the back portion 3 and which serves as a support for the rear portion of the frame 12. The frame 12 is further provided with a tongue 17 which is adapted to support a terminal block, not shown.

A forwardly extending lock rod 18 is mounted on the rear wall 5 of the terminal block housing 2 and is adapted to retain a suitable cover, not shown, to close the front of the housing 2 to exclude dust and moisture therefrom, and to also prevent unauthorized tampering or interference with the terminal connections.

By my improved construction, a very rugged and substantially unitary structure is provided that is of relatively light weight, is easily manufactured and which is of neat and attractive appearance.

I claim as my invention:

1. A meter case comprising a main body portion provided with a side wall, a terminal block housing cooperating therewith and a detachable terminal block support mounted in said housing and having a Rods 10 are flanged portion conforming to the configuration of said Wall' and forming a contim'i'ation thereof.

2. A meter case comprising a main body portion provided-With-an arcuate side wall and a separate terminal block supporting member provided with an areuate flanged portion adapted to complete the Wallet said body portion.

3. A meter case comprising a"ma'in body portion provided With an interrupted side Wall and a separate terminal block supportmember provided with afianged 'porttio'n supported on the extremities of said wan and adapted to bridge the space therebetween to effect the continuity of'said 'Wall. "4 A meter case comprising a main body portion"provided with an interrupted arfcuate side Wall and separate terminal block supporting member provided With an 'areuate flanged portion having a radius of I c'ifrv'atu'reequal to that of said side Wall,

said supp'drting member being adapted to "bridge "the space between the extremities otand tobe supported by, the side Wall.

'5. A meter case comprising a main body portion and a terminal block housing, said body portion being provided ithfan in-' terrupted side Wall and a terminal block suporung member disposed Within said easing 'andb'etween said bodyl portion and said housing and provided with a flanged portion supported by the extremities o f'said sidewall and bridging the space 'therebetwl n- V A meter case comprising "a main body 'p'ort'ion' provided with an "int'erri'ipted side Wall, a terminal block housing communicatiiig'" vith said body portionand a terminal block supporting member mounted in said "casing and having a Wall portion adapted to "partially enclose said housing and; a flanged portion adapted to cooperate With the side Wall of said body portion to form a continuation thereof.

7. A meter case comprising a back portion provided \Vl'Cl-i an interrupted side Wall and a terminal block supporting member provided With a flanged port-ion adapted to be supported by the extremities of said side Wall and to span the space the'rebe- 't'vveen to form a continuation of said 'W-a'll, said supporting member being further provided With a tongue portion adapted to engage "an aperture in said back portion to form a rear support for said supporting member. i

8. A meter case comprising a main body portion provided With a sidewall, a "terminal block housing cooperating therewith -and a detachable terminal block support mounted in saidhousing and having a portion conforming to the configuration ot'said Wa'll andforming a continuation thereof.

9. A meter case comprising {adjoining inain m'eter and terminal housing including a side 'v'all portion surrounding said housings and a detachable terminal support having a portion completing said side Wall portion around one of said housings,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed-my name this ninth day of June,

CHARLES M.- HOEFTMAN. 

